Raonic returning to court in Japan

Canada's Milos Raonic reacts after winning a shot during his Davis Cup World Group first round tennis match against Israel's Amir Weintraub in the city of Ramat Hasharon near Tel Aviv September 16, 2011. (REUTERS/Nir Elias)

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QMI Agency

Milos Raonic intends to play at an ATP tournament in Tokyo, starting Monday, as he continues his recovery from surgery on his right hip.

Tennis Canada confirmed that Raonic flew to Japan Wednesday,

It will be his first tour event since getting injured during a second-round match at Wimbledon in June.

The Canadian star returned to the courts for the Davis Cup earlier this month and was rusty, losing in four sets to Israel's Amir Weintraub. He also was battling a virus and it was apparent he was not playing at full capacity.

Raonic, ranked 30th in the world, then withdrew from a tournament in Malaysia to work on his game.

MURRAY MOVES ON

Top seeds Andy Murray and Gael Monfils were econd-round winners Thursday at the $551,000 Thailand Open.

The fourth-ranked Australian Open runner-up Murray mauled Michael Berrer 6-4, 6-2 in 71 minutes, while the world No. 9 Monfils smacked 11 aces and held off Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 on the hardcourts at Impact Arena.

"I served well throughout," said Murray, who arrived in Bangkok on Monday afternoon. "I'm still trying to overcome the jetlag a little bit, as I find it difficult traveling east. I started playing better in the second set, moving well."

Up next for Murray will be promising Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, while Monfils' quarterfinal opponent on Friday will be last year's Bangkok runner-up Jarkko Nieminen.

NO GO FOR NOVAK

Ailing world No. 1 Novak Djokovic has pulled out of next week's China Open, citing a back injury.

Djokovic overcame the injury en route to capturing his first-ever U.S. Open title earlier this month, but was forced to retire from a Davis Cup match against Argentine slugger Juan Martin del Potro two weeks ago, as his Serbian squad lost to visiting Argentina in a semifinal showdown in Belgrade.

The 24-year-old Djokovic captured the last two China Open titles, including a victory over Spaniard David Ferrer in last year's finale at Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Centre.

Djokovic ascended to No. 1 for the first time in his career this year, one in which he captured three of the four Grand Slam events.